It’s raining upsets
From The GIST College Sports (hi@thegistsports.com)
Well, hello there!
Here’s to entering the new week just like Jordan Chiles entered UCLA’s gym this weekend for the first time since winning a team gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Feeling flippin’ fantastic as we scroll on and read about the latest and greatest college sports news.
— Longtime hoops broadcaster Jay Bilas, weighing in on the argument that UConn men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley’s sideline antics are a result of his competitive nature.
- Hurley, whose No. 19 Huskies lost to unranked Xavier on Saturday, has been the subject of criticism throughout the season due to his reaction to calls and interactions with officials.
Women’s basketball
🏀 Ball ’til you fall
The GIST: Who needs to wait until March with chaos aplenty in women’s basketball. Let’s catch up on the weekend before another week of on-court action.
No. 2 South Carolina hands No. 5 LSU its first loss of the season: A snowstorm postponed this SEC matchup, but the cold weather couldn’t stop the Gamecocks from heating up in a 66–56 Friday victory. The defending champs have now topped four straight ranked teams and haven’t lost since falling to No. 1 UCLA on November 24th. Caliente.
- As for the Tigers, they quickly bounced back from the L, posting a 64–51 win over Texas A&M last night.
No. 21 Michigan State dominates No. 24 Michigan: The Spartans outscored their rival 59–25 in the second half en route to a lopsided 88–58 victory. The Wolverines were in it, leading by four points at the half before the Spartans went on their massive run. The brightest star? Junior guard Theryn Hallock, who scored 23 of her 25 points in the second half. So clutch.
Florida State upsets No. 13 UNC: Junior sensation Ta’Niya Latson notched 25 points in her team’s 86–84 stunner over North Carolina, including a buzzer-beating layup. Florida State junior Sydney Bowles also impressed, adding 18 points on six made three-pointers to snap the Tar Heels’ five-game win streak.
Betts posts career high, leads No. 1 UCLA past No. 8 Maryland: Nobody had a better Sunday than 6’7” center Lauren Betts, who finished with a career-high 33 points in an 82–67 win over No. 8 Maryland. She also passed the 1,000-point scoring mark and helped propel her undefeated Bruins to a 20-0 start for the first time in program history. Ball in a day’s work.
Men’s basketball
🏀 It’s raining upsets
The GIST: It was a weekend full of upsets in men’s college hoops, with five unranked squads earning wins over top-25 teams. Did your school escape the madness? Read on to find out.
Vanderbilt and Texas secure top-15 SEC stunners: Vanderbilt junior guard Jason Edwards scored 18 points to lead his team past No. 9 Kentucky 74–69 on Saturday, while Texas clinched its second straight top-25 win by defeating No. 13 Texas A&M 70–69 on a layup from senior Tramon Mark with three seconds left on the clock. Jaw, dropped.
Conference bottom-dwellers Minnesota and Kansas State shock opponents: Minnesota, who entered the game 2-6 in Big Ten play, defeated No. 15 Oregon 77–69 thanks to 31 points from senior Dawson Garcia. And over in the Big 12, Kansas State earned its second conference win of the season, topping No. 23 West Virginia 73–60. Wild.
No. 1 Auburn survives No. 6 Tennessee: Fifth-year senior Johni Broome returned from an ankle injury and led Auburn past Tennessee 53–51 by posting 16 points off the bench. Not to mention, he also grabbed 14 rebounds, notching his 11th double-double of the season. Make that 11 straight wins for the top-ranked Tigers — me-ow.
No. 7 Houston wins epic double overtime (OT) contest vs. No. 12 Kansas: Houston trailed by six points with eight seconds left in OT before hitting back-to-back three-pointers to force a second extra frame. That’s where the Cougars outscored the Jayhawks 13–7 to close out the game. Just goes to show you, it ain’t over until it's over.
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🏒 Four WCHA teams battle for top spot in women’s hockey
Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) squads Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Minnesota Duluth make up the top four teams in the latest women’s hockey poll. The No. 1 Badgers have a mere two blemishes on their record this season: A loss and a tie, both to No. 2 Ohio State.
- The postseason is just one month away, but it’s safe to say the WCHA is the conference in women’s hockey this season.
🤸 No. 1 Oklahoma women’s gymnastics starts season 8-0
The Sooners have maintained a perfect record through eight meets to maintain their preseason No. 1 ranking. Most recently, Oklahoma defeated No. 10 Alabama on Friday behind a trio of stellar performances from senior Jordan Bowers, winning the all-around title, plus the bars and floor events. Talk about a triple threat.
🏒 No. 1 Boston College men’s hockey wins sixth straight game
The Eagles will almost certainly retain the top spot in this week’s men’s hockey poll after winning six straight games, including a weekend sweep of crosstown rival No. 8 Boston University. Flying high, indeed.
- Unranked Penn State also had a weekend to remember, tying No. 9 Ohio State in regulation before winning a shootout on Friday and then defeating the Buckeyes 3–2 in OT on Saturday.
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Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
👽 Who to know
Swooshman — Nike’s mythical sports hero who reps an iconic ’90s suit.
🌹 What to watch
Season 29 of “The Bachelor.” Former pro basketball player Grant Ellis takes the lead in the search for love starting tonight.
🏈 What to wear
Off Season, the NFL’s chic new apparel line featuring a collection of unisex puffer jackets repping five iconic teams. HYFR.
Today’s email was brought to you by Eden Laase and Briana Ekanem. Fact checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Marga Sison and Elisha Gunaratnam. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.